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# ruffle

verb (ruffle, ruffles, ruffled, ruffling); noun (a ruffle, ruffles)

«ruffle» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (verb) To make something uneven or messy, like hair, feathers or a smooth surface. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ruffle/#m1)
2. (verb) To annoy or upset someone a little: "ruffle someone's feathers". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ruffle/#m2)
3. (noun) A strip of gathered cloth used as decoration on a dress or shirt; a frill. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ruffle/#m3)
4. (noun) A soft drum roll. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ruffle/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life, grown-ups ruffle children's hair as a friendly gesture. In nature, birds ruffle their feathers to keep warm or look bigger. In stories, the wind ruffles water or leaves; "ruffle feathers" means upset people. Phrases: ruffle someone's hair, ruffle feathers, unruffled (calm), a dress with ruffles.

### Examples

- Grandad ruffled my hair and smiled. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ruffle/#x1)
- A breeze ruffled the surface of the lake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ruffle/#x2)
- The bird ruffled its feathers in the cold. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ruffle/#x3)
- Her rude comment ruffled a few feathers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ruffle/#x4)
- The princess wore a dress with lots of ruffles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ruffle/#x5)
- He stayed calm and unruffled during the test. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ruffle/#x6)
- 'Can you ruffle your fur when you are angry, or purr when you are pleased?' said she. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ruffle/#x7)

### Note

Past form: ruffled. "Unruffled" means calm. Do not confuse with "rumple" (crease) or "raffle" (prize draw).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «ruffle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ruffle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«ruffle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ruffle.html) on Mova free.